General Nathanael Greene

Did anyone else else experience this. I went my whole life never hearing this man's name or if I did hear it mentioned in school or a textbook there was no emphasis. But when I began a truly detailed study of the American Revolution I realized how could they not have mentioned his name as much as George Washinton's. He was truly the second most important officer of the Revolution and yet he is nearly forgotten. I hope that will change!

Greene was a beret all the way. :eusa_clap

His reputed last words to a minister: "Let the Lord wait, I'll die when I'm damn ready to die, sir!"

Airborne, definitely.


Francis Marion, The Swamp Fox is another notable.

I've experienced the situation you have with other historical figures. It's funny you mentioned who you did though, as he is actually well known and regarded where I live. I live not 15 miles from Guilford Courthouse National Military Park where there is an enormous statue of him. The park is one of my favorite haunts.

Harp said:

Francis Marion, The Swamp Fox is another notable.

Click to expand...

Glad somebody else mentioned this before I did. Marion was a true thorn in the British side for quite a few years, and kept them rather tied up in parts of SC during that time. He was a real pioneer of guerrilla warfare, though many of his biographies tended to exaggerate it somewhat. Peter Horry's memoir is probably the best telling of Marion's life.

You can probably tell I'm biased...according to the Stub Indents books for SC, my great-great-great-great grandfather and his two brothers were among Marion's Men. Their father also gave supplies from his farm to Marion and Peter Horry's troops, and was awarded another 900 acres of land for his support by the state government after the revolution was successful.

I now work at the institution that bears his name. I see the commission making him a Lt. Colonel in the Army of the United States every day when I walk to my desk.
http://images.acswebnetworks.com/2017/78/lib_fm_commiss.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Marion

"Remember Swamp Fox Marion, who led that wily band. Of Allen, Greene, and Sumter, who made a noble stand. Remember too the mothers true who cried their tears alone - their names will be told with the brave and the bold, where ev'r our flag is flown."

- The Wolfe Tones, "A Dream of Liberty"

A great book which discusses in detail the war in the south is "The Road to Guilford Courthouse". The author does a great job categorizing even the smallest miltia skirmishes. A fan of Francis Marion would be interested in this book. I only wish the author would finish the story with a book on The Road from Guilford Courthouse which would include Greene's campaign to reclaim the South which the battle of Guilford Courthouse set into motion.

Captain Allen McLane was another unsung hero of the 'petite guerre' within the greater war.

One usually sees entries like: Captain Allen McLane’s company of dragoons recruited in Delaware, and gained a name for themselves, whether on horseback or as infantry. Serving under “Light Horse Harry” Lee, McLane and his men participated in the bayonet charge at Paulus Hook on 19 August 1779. Charging at four in the morning, the Americans won without firing a shot.

What the cursory histories don't mention is that McLane had previously infiltrated the British position by posing as a country bumpkin. A year prior, he had been gathering intel on Crown positions around Philadelphia dressed as an old woman and generally harassing their outposts: on the night of the Officer's Ball (Meschianza), he led a raid to set one on fire.

Throughout the war, McLane had his troopers pulling off similar stunts, such as -

http://www.ushistory.org/march/phila/whitemarsh_8.htm a
As he pushed forward, Grey cut off Americans Colonel Joseph Reed and General John Cadwalader from the American line. Reed was rendered helpless after falling from his horse which had been had been shot. He was beset by a host of Hessians bearing barbaric bayonets. Cadwalader drew his sword an prepared to defend his friend to the death.

Just then the cavalry rode in to save the day.

Captain Allen McLane, at the head of a squad of horseman, ordered a charge. The Hessians fled and McLane rescued the two American officers. The Cavalry had saved the day.